Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Evergreen Tour - II

Departed from Amravati, after
many obstacles travelled to Bangalore and advanced our journey to Mysore by
same train - Mysore Express. Everyone’s breathe calming down. Train was halted
and as were we.

Indeed!!

Day 2

October 05, 2012:

1630 hours

So, finally we brought the bacon
home. Everyone was rushing to get out of the coach as if we are walking down ofgeneral compartment and we have to get down in hurry; else we might leave alone
intrain. Last check-out of all compartments we resided. And done!

The fresh Mysore air was gushing
into the lungs. Temperature was mild. Somewhere close to 20 degree. This was
okay for us. Felt like singing the song-

Enough of sounding (felt like
Hema Sardesai for a second). Luggage was settled and counted. In no time we
found some mid-age-crisis kind of people circling us (same way eve teasers
might be doing). Husky. Shaggy in luck. This actually worried us. They started
talking in-between themselves (obviously that was harder than Morse code to
interpret). Our respected teachers entered into their conversation. Later
realised they all were guides as matter of fact.

Convincing them was as hard as telling a girl she is looking great in a
photograph (though I turned mastered in this after this tour). But they were
putting all their efforts. They were ready with hotels. Places they will take
us. Prizes. Almost everything. For anarcsecond I even thought of taking my
7000 bucks from Mahesh Sir (Head of Kesari Tour and Travels Pvt. Ltd.) and go
with these people around. But then heard thundering sound of someone shouting
withvery high pitch (from it I calculated the event is happening just close to
me. Because as it was a high pitch...so was sound of high frequency. As pitch
and frequency are directly proportional to each other. And low frequency sound
travelslonger distance on contrary high frequency can travel shorter distance.
Perfect examples of low frequency are conversation between whales, elephants
from 100s of miles). Enough of geekyness. Final conclusion; it was Himanshu
Sir. Soon all that guides fled away faster than Harry Potters Disillusionment
Charm.

---

Dosaaaaa

Our bus was waiting for us
outside station. Manjushree Travels (only readable terminology for usin
visible landscape). Luggages were ported and we departed. Reached our Hotel
Vyshak International by 1730 hours. I was accompanied with Ojas, Jitesh and
Pranav in room. Dumped everything in allotted rooms. Freshened up and were on
ground floor with glowing faces. A shining grin was visible. All were excited.
Even the 32 hours long journey was unable to bring minuscule glimpse of
fatigue.

Then we went to a nearby roadside
pedlar. That place resembled as Chaupati of Mumbai. Pani-puri, bhel, samosa,
kachori replaced with upma, idli, upma and dosa.

Again planned dropped (my manyplans are dropped in similar fashion. If all of them came true then I would
certainlybeendied of embarrassment by now).

Everyone had what they think
would be tasty. Dosa consumers share with Idli and Idli one with Upma, somewayor other we tasted everything. We were unsure if we might get this food again
or not. Each and every molecule of Idli was felt. I could feel it through my
pharynx. Grub in. They were the tastiest thing we had till date. Stuffed with
all ferment food we headed towards Chamunda Devi Temple.

It was situated on a hill; 8
kilometre [4.9 miles]. Imranbhai (I don’t remember his actual name.Seems my neuron died where I hived his name)
accompanied us enroute. Traversing through zig-zag road we reached Chamunda
Devi Hill. Counting ourselves among the luckier persons who got the pleasure to
bow Chamunda Devi. It remains close most of the times. Happy!! On the itinerary
back to Hotel Vyshak International we take glimpse of world’s biggest Nandi
Bull which according to rituals was growing an inch every year. India really
has some very awestrucking monuments!

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi proposal point :D :*

Now we were at the same location
were Shahrukh Khan (Suri – Punjab power lightning up your life) proposed
Anushka Sharma (Taani partner) in movie ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ with the entirelycity lights showing “I <3 You”. It was simply splendid! I took a wide-angle
photothereatle (ast I could propose my girlfriend editing it in Photoshop
then). Camera seton manual mode. Shutter speed- 30 sec. Aperture-6.3. ISO 100.
And done. Got a fabulous snap!!

Next destination Kaveri
Handicraft and Sandalwood Handicraft work. It was silk saree shop, which
naturally turned out to be most boring part for us. Some came to purchase saree
for their Mom, Aunty, Granma; even girlfriends (I feel myself luckiest person
at such bits). They were standingon the aisle of shop, trying the sarees. All
of them replicated those three women from MDH Masala advertisement jingle –

Back in hotel. We then had the
gags by calling any random room from telephone by simply dialling room number
of respective room and asking them for any order, extra bill and much more.
Ojas turned out to be prankster in this. He was aware of girls’ room number.
Amid we got the call for dinner. Then we had masaladosa and potato curry along
with it. I started getting a feeling – Are we going serto vedsame food inwhole trip? If so, certainly I would end up with my year long storage
allocation of south Indian food!

The jibber-jabber continued and
upstairs we had more fun. Biggest one was with Pranav, TV remote control and TV
itself. Sorry to say, but I can’t publicit!! Akhir ijjat bhi koi chij hoti hai.

(if accounted the whole energy
spent today I am sure all of us can build their own personal pyramid with our
own mummies in it. Of which King Khufu will feel diffident of!)

Everyone went to their cosy bed.
Whereas, I was shifted in room with Mahesh Sir, our Kesari and Tours
co-ordinator.

Realised if first day is so much
fun, then how might be the upcoming days be. Got more excited with a smile on
face. Body systems shutting down gradually.

Subscribe "Tens of India" to know more about India

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGq70vsrEWKwvDEMu95mrVA

Day 3

October 06, 2012:

0525 hours

YES!! The clock struck 0525
hours. I was sure everyone was tired and no one is used to wake up early. So,
before I would take my weapons (so called toothpaste, toothbrush and cold water)
I went to every room to awake them from their intimate dreams (am sure everyone
cursed me for same). But it was demand of time! Reconfirmed all still awake,
not doing anything more than yawning. I went back to my room and got fresh.

For us it was Day 3 of tour. We
were supposed to do rafting, visit Golden Temle and a local park in Coorg. And
then stay at Coorg. Distance 86 km.

See that gold :O

GONG!!

But for media, India, newspaper,
court, Kanarese, police persons it was a big day. Supreme Court declared that
Karnataka has to release 9000 QSEC of water to Tamil Nadu. Which was later
opposed by Karnataka and refused to follow the orders. For this reason Kanarese
took aggressive stance and declared ‘bandh’
[strike] on 06th Oct. And with that our Infosys visit was already
messed; we were under surveillance.

Mahesh Sir supercharged us to do everything
hurriedly. And that resulted too much heightening.

Lunch included bread-jam. We gulped
our lunch leaving digestion completely to small intestine and large intestine
and flagged the bus. By 0745 we were out of Mysore. Imran Bhai and Mahesh Sir
told us that out of three groups (We, EXTC and CMPS 2ndshift) only
we survived this catastrophic event. EXTC were trapped in Mysore by police and
were escorted back to hotel whereas 2nd shift was not even lucky to see how Sun
looks in Bangalore.

---

We continued our journey to our next
destination. White water rafting!! Yeee!! You heard it right...I mean you read
it right. It was first of its kind for many of us or being precise for all of
us.

But this is India, where simplest
work can be transformed into most complicated way possible. The Karnataka roads
were quite good in terms of conditions but political circumstances were bad.
The toll emerged from no where. And then we were prevented from going ahead due
tobandh. Saddened!! I got
sentimental very soon. My playlist was still alive which I saved when our HOD
was not permitting us for IV. I was about to go deeper in the marshland. But
then decided to see if anything is possible. Got the info that toll gate will
open at 1100 hours...it was mere 0930 hours. So, we decided to visit Golden
Temple. Prior to it we pre-order thaliin a nearby hotel Top N’ Town.

We then headed directly to Golden
Temple! Parked the bus and we were standing on the entrance of Golden Temple.

ASTONISHED!!!!

It was way too beautiful than gestated.
This was very insinuate. Eyes were trying their best to get the best possible
light and the gleaming, glittering gold was visible on the top temple. Have I
been Spider Man (or preferably Super Man) would have stolen all gold on the
dome, but was lacking sky-scrapers.

Ramesh.. Suresh..

With every single step the view
of Golden Temple was visible. It was getting broader proportionally our eyes aswell. First we get passed a lawn, where a group of pigeons were placed with
verymagnetising flowers blooming.Then a
biggong, campanologist not present; it was tied. Hundreds of bhikku(monk). There came the Golden Temple main building.
The walls were very colourful (camera capacity of distinguishing 16 million
colours were insufficient). They were picturised with two persons. With a broad
moustache, tache below lower lip (just similar to mine :P) and protected with
heavyarmour (that I guess will leave Madhuri Dixit in embarrassment for their Kahe Ched Mohe - Devdas dance with 30
kgs of outfit for which they are proud of), with some deities or servants
serving food to them.

We then entered in the temple.

O.M.G!!! O.M.G!!! O.M.G!!!
O.M.G!!!

What is this? Am I dead or alive?
Is it heaven or what? I search for top in my pocket to spin it, but didn’t
found. So, I pinched myself! It was hurtful. We were surrounding by gold
everywhere. Three big statues completely covered with gold were withstandingthere. Was it real? I wasn’t sure. Or rather wasn’t in the position to handle
twoawestrucking moments that so in this short span. All of us were like –
WWWOOOWWWWW.....!!!!!....!!!!! Already widen eyes got wider (I wish if Guinness
Books officials can be made available; Jalisa Thompson’s record was easilybreakable). But unfortunately whole gold was well protected; I was expecting
even some invisible LASER rays for same. For that I borrowed deodorant from
friend to sprinkle over that domain (in return we signed the deal on 60%-40%
basis); but futile.

After noticing each and every
corner of temple with every minute detail (enough to make Golden Temple Map for
ants/spiders/mosquitoes dwelling their) we saw a group of very small children.
They were from nearby school. Very silent. Polite. Praying. Everyone’s eyes
closed to attain their ultimate life aim - Nirvana!

Then came we people. Notorious.
Atheist. Sinful. Completely opposite to them in many aspects. They were so cute
and beautiful. Girls went to all of them like they are their own children and
am sure many even might have dreamed of having same future child (but no one of
us was bold enough to tell them-Girls you need to have a cute husband to have
children like that!!). Click!! Click!! Click!! Shutter sound was echoing more
than our sound. They were all like Nepalese Buddhist. I have heard many jokes
prior to this that these people looks very alike in complexion and facial
expressions. And these children were proof of same. Being a curious person I
went to two of them and checked their finger prints (visually scanned).
EUREKA!! Finger prints also matched. But again planned dropped (you know itsreason now).

Me, Mahesh Sir and Ojas

The temple was emptied by us.
Students were placed and remain sat silently. Encompassing landscape was receipted.
It was breakfast time for them. The classes of younger bhikku (monk) were over and then they went in another building.
Some were roaming. Some were playing game on mobile (as they are not allowed to
have wife so probability of chatting with crush was mere), some shying, and few
laughing. All dressed in Kasaya with
saffron/yellow robe. Time was running by and we have to make through before
1100 hours. In hurry we left the hypnotising Golden Temple. And it was again
those kids standing outside in queue. Girls again attacked them (it was more
aggressive than Chinese diplomacy in China Sea), but this time many of them ran
away. I thought of distancing myself...cause anything done in excess is
harmful. Even LOVE and CARE is no exception. I was introduced to a very shaggy
personstanding there. He was from Mumbai and his son was working in Infosys.
For a second I thought- saala south se
sabhi engineers ko job pe lene ka theka Infosys ne hi le rakha hai kya??!!?
But as long as that uncle was interrogating I was enjoying. He asked all things
regarding us! He blessed us all, I thanked him and wish him good future and
thus finally we departed.

We enjoyed our lunch at Top N’
Town on ₹ 100 / plate with ₹ 20 extra for extra chapatti. It was just ₹ 5 in Maharashtra. But
still we were okay. As rice captured each and every corner possible in stomach.
Next destination white water rafting.

---

All were excited from the core to have rafting on riverKaveri. In travels only we decide who will sit with whom. We planned
accordingly. As we reached our destination we ran as faster as we could and set
the end point to the canoe renter’s shop. Me, Ojas, Jitesh, Piyush, Girish,
Mayur and Tejas reached there. The rate was like ₹ 100 for 2.5 km with
10 persons in each raft. But we bargained a lot to reduce these rates (very
proud moment foe any guy). He came down to ₹ 70 with same specificationsabove. We were done. We went back to the folks standing and looking at us with
intensehope (as if they are jobless from 15 years and we are giving them jobwithout interview and aptitude test). But later we came to know that Mahesh Sir
already booked the canoes and thus all efforts went in vain. But our plan or
rather sitting position was still intact. Our canoe included the same seven
persons.

Me, Jitesh, Girish (not sure), Mayur, Piyush, Ojas and Tejas

In no time everyone was up and we were upfront. Jacket,
helmet and ply were provided. We started plyingwith all the
energy we could. At first ply was handed by everyone except Ojas (only six ply
was provided). Then we decided the person with muscle strain will substitute himself
with Ojas. We were out front of everyone. Also learned new word – pastimaad - meaning move forward. Our accompanied
canoeman on boat was guiding us very well. Even with language barrier in us we
were able to understand each other from non-verbal communication in terms of
facial expressions (Yes! Communication Skills study is not dissipated). Tree
branches from surrounding marshy land were hovering over us. It was amusing
going through them. They were giving the feeling of green cave. But nothing
with us was supposed to go normally. Being human all habits of ours was
inhumanely. Piyush with a shock shouted – Lets jump!!! (a noteworthy thing is amnot sure if he even knows “SWIMMING” has two ‘M’s or one). Knowing our
intention our accompanied canoeman shouted with all his energy – ALLE!! ALLE!! ALLE!! (I assumed that
stands for STOP!!)

Pastimaad!!! Our canoe

But he was too late. Heard a big
splash. Girish jumped in water without even giving second thought to what
Piyush said. All of us started laughing so hard that Girish’s face shrank tominimum it could (but it didn’t, in return it swell as he was in water). Our evil
mind worked and we started plying as fast as we could. He being a good swimmer
wasn’t able to equal the energy of six of us. But our consciences show some
sympathy and we pulled him up on canoe. It was 25 to 30 feet deep water.

Soon we reached on bank and all
of us enjoyed bathing, swimming, swimming techniques, spanking in shallow
water. Nearby water turned completely muddy. It was longest bath for many of
us. One by one of us started retreating of it and pioneered to dry themselves.
Done with it! Well packed the wet clothes, distinguished them from other goods.

Coconut water was financed by
Mahesh Sir. Thanks to them for same. Some gagism happened and we were off to
Coorg.

---

OMG!!! My cam :/ :O

:) :) :)

Reaching Coorg’s Hotel
Nisargadham; this time with Mayur, Girish, Tejas and Piyush. We did the obvious
thing of putting the wet clothes to dry. Being ingenious, instead of placing
clothes outside me placed all of them in room. This was a well planned plan.
Its reflex reflected other morning. Freshen up. And visit a nearby garden –
Natural Park. It was a normal garden (afterall zillion visits to Anand Sagar in
Shegaon my hometown garden will withdraw interest from all other garden prevailing
on earth).

Prior to having dinner we played
two games. One included of making a human circle and then saying kacchipapai and pakkipapaione by one and another included of pronouncing chota fish and bada fish but trick in this was when shouting chota (small) fish you have to show predict fish is big with the
aid of hands and when shouting bada
(big) fish you have to act as if fish is small. In both games defaulter get
flunked and was eliminated. Thus winner came out as Amrita, Mayur and Archie
(DAMN! How I let them win?). Yet, khel
mein haar-jit tooh chalti hi rehti hai.

Had our lunch in Food Court. As
thought Dosa and Idlis were served. Done with it. Following it we had sweet
dessert as birthday treat from Archie. First time tasted the Bubblegum
ice-creamflavour. Loved it though!